John Fugelsang explains dilemma of Liberals
John Fugelsang told an unfortunate truth recently on CNN about Liberals. It is a truth that affects American policy because of the assumption that the country is more conservative than it is. This reality was explained in a piece I wrote a few months ago titled “America Is A Liberal Nation. A Liberal Wins On A Liberal Message.”
Fugelsang went out of his way to do two things on the CNN program. He first reminded the host that Jon Stewart did not go solely after Fox News or Conservative news. He went after what many perceived as Liberals as well. In fact to be a Liberal dictates that he did what he did.
Secondly John Fugelsang went into a commentary about a truth about Liberals.
It’s not that there is a Liberal counterweight to Fox. Jon didn’t go for Liberals on the show. Liberals already get their news from a variety of sources. He went for the millions of Americans who identify with Liberal positions but choose to not identify themselves as Liberals. A 2012 Gallup poll show that 77% of Americans support abortion rights in all or some cases but only 43% want to call themselves pro-choice. And it’s much the same with “Liberals” in our society. The Fox News definition of the word is overtaken the dictionary definition of the word. So what Jon Stewart and the Daily Show did along with Colbert, along with Maher, along with Wilmore was reach out to those people who aren’t necessarily news junkies but who do agree with progressive taxation, with marriage equality, with not locking people up for smoking marijuana, and use entertainment first, preaching is last to make it a fun show and that’s the way you beat Fox News.
John Fugelsang explains why the loss of Jon Stewart and his subsequent replacement are important. Stewart has the ability to reach those who are nebulous in their belief system. His satire, comedy, and sometimes unfunny news reaches them in a manner that cable TV news and broadcast TV are unable to.